Jay H

What he has done in a Footballing sense is remarkable. Aussie managers are seen as third-world citizens in Europe, there has barely been a success story over time and he has gone into a passionate environment with extremely demanding fans and barely missed a beat. He has such unwavering belief in his own methods and drags people along with him. He is a winner everywhere he has been including the national team and next step should be the PL He would get a club like Leeds or dare I say Everton on the right track before too long.

There hasn’t been a sporting loss like this here in Australia that I can remember anyway, just the fact that he was known and idolised in so many countries. Growing up in the early to mid 90s Cricket was my first sporting love before Football came into my life (and never departed). Basically it is a summer institution and therefore I had a pretty good opportunity to watch him very closely in his prime. When Warne came onto the scene, he literally had crowds in the palm of his hands. If I’m honest, he was never my favourite, that Aussie team of the 90s era despite being very good was also very questionable in its behaviour on the pitch. But his talent was extraordinary and helped develop a new generation of cricketers, and leave plenty of mental scars on the opposition along the way He was like the Michael Jordan of the Cricket world, larger than life and as many have mentioned on here, his legend off-field was almost as big as it was on it. Only heard him a week or so ago doing some 20/20 commentary where he was in great spirits. He had a great feel for the game as a co-commentator, his work on Sky during the English summer is a lot better than what he produced in Australia due to the fact that he fell into the “boys club” humour and got sidetracked talking about nonsense. But in the UK his talent shone. Was only on Twitter yesterday paying tribute to one of his mentors in Rod Marsh another major loss for the sport albeit before my time. But yeah, even if you didn’t follow the game, you just knew who he was. A true icon

Also apparently targeting Azpilicueta due to the fact that he comes out of contract at the end of the season and they are targeting free agents due to their financial position. So in that regard, the link to Mo is completely fantasyland stuff.

I read and laugh at a lot of the comments about Tyler on Sky. We get Peter Drury over here in Oz for the World Feed. He does all the big games of the round. His style is interesting, very dramatic sometimes a little bit too much (in contrast to present day Tyler by the sounds) but his love for the game is clearly evident and displays no bias for any team Very professional. Also will give Jim Proudfoot some acknowledgment. Has a really good knowledge. Case in point last year when Big Nat came into the side, he often referenced his back story at Bolton coming through their academy where his old man was in charge and the impact he had there. So it gave the viewers context into who Nat was (when not many non-Liverpool fans would have a clue). Just good research and once again has a real feel for the game.

This a major story in the NBA at the moment. Wouldn’t surprise at all if some Footballers have the same thoughts due to their beliefs. https://www.nba.com/news/warriors-andrew-wiggins-says-he-will-stick-to-beliefs-regarding-vaccine

Daniel Sturridge has just signed for my home town club Perth Glory in the A-League. Started with a vague rumour but gathered steam rapidly over the past 48 hours. Glory have history with making moves like this having also signed Robbie Fowler. But I think Dan is probably in better physical shape than Robbie was at the time. Side note is that the club also signed Brad Jones earlier in the off-season who is a Perth boy and always wanted to end his career at the club. He is now the ripe old age of 39. Getting 2012/3 vibes with these signings. https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/perth-glory/perth-glory-confirm-daniel-sturridge-signing-for-2021-22-a-league-season-in-huge-coup-c-4118196

Local media here in Australia and some reports in the UK are saying that Ange Postecoglou is now the favourite for the Celtic job. A lot of people who say Ange who? and apparently Celtic fans are up in uproar by the thought. But his pedigree is very good. Currently managing in Japan, he won the league with Yokohama F Marinos in 2019 in just his second season in that league. Before that he led the national team to the 2014 World Cup and won the 2015 Asian Cup on home soil which was a hell of a achievement. That goes alongside his success in the domestic competition which admittedly isn’t the highest standard in the world but certainly is comparable with what you see in Scotland. (FYI he was the manager of Melbourne Victory when Liverpool played in front of 95,000 people at the MCG in 2013 a night still talked about here in glowing terms. He is someone who has a very strong belief in his own ability and is very single minded. He has parallels to Rafa in that if he feels strongly about a issue he will speak out about it potentially damaging his own tenure. He famously quit the national team after qualifying for the 2018 WC after clashing with the top brass. He has always been an ‘outsider’, as Australian Football has been very regressive and comfortable treading water, while Ange is extremely progressive and thinks big. Who knows whether it’s all paper talk and wishful thinking but I am sure if getting the job, he will do a very good job and is a better option than Eddie Howe. And being a massive Red, he will love going head to head with Stevie G.

Good piece on my nomination(s). They seem like good lads esp Sinama Pongolle but despite the raw talent, they just didn’t cut it here. We reportedly trumped United and Arsenal in winning their signature which at the time was a fair effort. Or perhaps those clubs knew something we didn’t. https://scroll.in/field/853546/from-2001-u-17-world-cup-to-liverpool-the-story-of-florent-sinama-pongolle-and-anthony-le-tallec

Distinctly remember this game, we battered a shit Sunderland and this backup goalkeeper played out of his skin, cue the Macho Man puns. Did the same a month later at the Stadium of Light too. Highlight of his career no doubt. https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11669/2250290/reds-frustrated-by-macho-man

This will be my first. I was 10 when we last won and growing up in a country (Australia) where Football (call it soccer here) was classed as a second class sport so it took a bit of time to develop an interest especially as coverage was minimal (pre internet/ no pay TV etc). USA 94 was when I really began to engage with Football, and not after (95/96) became a fully fledged Reds fan. Went through some tough years in the late 90s but there was just a connection, and the love for the club has grown from there. There have been triumphs and heartbreaks thought that time (with plenty of bleary eyed mornings watching the team) but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Even though I live many thousands of miles away, in many ways I have never felt closer to the team than now. Such a loveable group of individuals led by Jurgen and Hendo but then you’ve got Robbo (personal fav), Virg and the front three etc...... It will be the true culmination of a great journey to get to this point but I am positive it is not the ending either.

Speculation is that he is more central. Replacement for Lallana perhaps?

Cooking with Brendan. He will be in his element.

It’s interesting because in Australia where I am they are playing Aussie Rules, Rugby League A-League, while Horse Racing is being run. Think we are the only place in the world where live sport is taking placeat this time. There is no one in attendance bar match officials and some media. Just like the PL, the AFL have said that there is no end-date if there is an outbreak and the season could stretch out to December. There is a big debate about whether it should be going on at all and I understand the argument that people need some joy in their lives at this time, it just doesn’t feel right. We are nowhere near the Europe/China levels at this time, but on the flip side the peak is due to hit here around May just in time for the Winter season. Some parts of the country esp the northern climate haven’t been hit as hard as there is a thought the virus doesn’t thrive in warmer weather. So fingers crossed that is the case and we can lift the much deserved Number 19 sometime in June or July.

This story has more twists and turns than last season’s title race but this is a slightly worrying development, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8115083/Top-clubs-anticipate-seismic-financial-hit-Premier-League-consider-abandoning-season.html

I was nine. Living in Australia in the pre-internet and satellite era it was really hard to get a real connection for the game. Basically we were fed scraps like the BBC World Service, the odd newspaper clipping and a weekly highlight show and that’s it. Italia 90 was the moment I developed a real interest for the game and the 92 Cup Final was the first time I watched the Reds live on TV. and by the mid 90s I was a fully fledged Red. Just can’t wait for the moment to see Hendo raise the trophy, it will definitely be a emotional moment,